Lewandowski, Christensen start in a 4-2-3-1 – How Barcelona can line up against Valencia
Lewandowski, Christensen start in a 4-2-3-1 – How Barcelona can line up against Valencia With the La Liga title already wrapped up, Barcelona head into their final game of the 2025/26 campaign with little pressure but plenty of storylines surrounding the squad. One of the biggest positives for Barcelona this season has not only been the trophies but also the growth of the squad as a whole. Flick has managed to create competition in nearly every position, and that could become crucial next year when the pressure increases again.
Meanwhile, the Catalan giants travel to face Valencia on the back of another dominant domestic season under Hansi Flick, and the German coach now appears ready to reward several fringe players and young talents with minutes. Barcelona’s recent record against Valencia paints a worrying picture for the hosts. Simply put, the Blaugrana have avoided defeat in their last 12 meetings across all competitions and have rarely struggled against Los Che in league action over the last decade.
Momentum is also on Barcelona’s side after their recent 3-1 victory over Real Betis pushed them to 94 points, leaving them comfortably ahead of rivals Real Madrid in the standings. With the title celebrations already underway and the FIFA World Cup approaching as well, Barcelona are unlikely to risk key names unnecessarily. This means several regular starters could be given a well-earned rest.
Defence Christensen could start his first game in 2026. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) In goal, veteran goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is expected to return to the starting lineup after sitting out the previous match. That decision could also allow Joan Garcia to officially secure the Zamora Trophy following an outstanding league campaign.
The defence may look very different from Barcelona’s strongest setup. Youngster Xavi Espart could feature at right-back while Alejandro Balde could return on the left. In central defence, Andreas Christensen is tipped to make a rare start alongside Gerard Martin .